Film holder



ll"aitented er. 1922,

.HERIBERT GEORGE PONTING AND GEORGE WILLIAM FORD,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND} SAID FORD ASSIGNOR T0 SAID PONTIN' FILM HOLDER.

Application filed August 24, 1921.. Serial N0. 494,772.

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Be it known that. We, HERBERT GEORGE PONTING and GEORGE WILLIAM FORD, both subjee1ss of theKing of England, residing, respectively at Oxford Circus, London, England, and kensington, London, England, have invented certain new and 1'1seful Improvements in Film Holders, o f which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates broadly to film holders, and more particularly to holders for filrns of the type adapted tohave a series of images, negative or positive, produced thereon either independently or in oontinuous succession, or of the type having a series of formed ima{ges thereon adapted to loe projected intermittently, as for stereoptiean purposes, or in continuous suocession as in kinematography.

Aceording to this invention a spool ease or holder of the type described is constructed in two parts, each of which is adapted to receive a roller, characterized by the two parts being movable relatively one to the other, and having interconnecting means so arranged that when 4 the holder is removed from the camera or maohine for storage purposes, the two parts thereof can be closer together than when in use so as to reducethe length of the film exposed between them. Preferably thefilm is completrly enolosed soas to aflord the maximum protection to the film when not in use against dust and damage.

The relative movement between the two portions 01: the holder may be obtained either by hinging the two parts together, or by seouring them in any convenient manner to an interconneeting member which may be removed so that they can be secured together. I

In the accompmying drawings F ig11re 1 is a perspective view showing one construction of holder opened out ready for insertion into the machine or (3&II1GI'2L;

- Figure 2 is a similar 'view showing the same con'tainer closed; v

Figures 3 and 4 are fro-nt and side views respectively 015 a modified construetion of holder, and

Figures 5 and 6 are front and side views of another modified construction. y

Like reference oharacters indicate like parts throughout the draw1ngs.

Referring first to the const!*uctjon illus the box 12. The corresponding plates on the two boxes are hinged together by rivets or other suitable connections 19, so that the two boxes can be swung towards or away from one anther, the relative movement takin place about the pivotal axis of the hinge 19 This axis is parallel with the axes of the rollers 13, and preferably is equidistant frorn the edges of each of the boxes. The dimensions and positioning 0f the flat plates aforesaid, and of their pivotal comneotions, is such that the two boxes or con tainers 11, 12 When swung apart as shown in Figure 1 occupy the correct relative positions which they must ocoupy when in use, and the plates are conveniently provided with inter-engaging shoulders 20 Which provide a definite adjustrnent 0f the oomplete holder when opened out.

Each of the boxes 11, 12 is closed on its periphery exoept for a srnall opening through Whioh the film erlters or leaves it. The film is indicated in ehain lines at 21 in Figure 1, and the respeotive openings in the boxes at 22,23. These openings are so positioned relatively to the axis of the pivotal conneetion 19 that when the twocontainers are closed to,qether the openings come opposite one another, as shown in Figure, 2, whereby the length of film exioosed between the boxes is I meduced. Around each of the openings 22.,

28 there are.provided Walls 24, 25, 26 and27, whieh are so disposed that when the two oontainers 11, 12 are swung together these walls come into o0ntact with one another and provide a complete enclosure fo r the film 21. As shown in Figure 2 the Walls 24, 25 overlap one another and frietionallv reta'rn the two containers in their closed poSition.

lt Will he seen that with this construction of spool case, the holder, by providin'g a complete enclosure for the film during storage, pro'tects it fron1 any damage or dust, and, What is partienlarly important, when used with kinematographic filrns constitutes a fire-proof container for the film so that the risk of fire is eliminated.

The construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 could be modified if so desired, by omitting the plates 15, 17 or 16, 18, and by relying on one hinge connection 19. It is preferred to use the construction illustrated, as it oloviously is of greater strength; Other arrang'ernents or constructions could be used for pivotally connecting together the two containers 11, 12 so long as the space 28 between them when opened out is left clear for the passage of a beam of light to the filn1 21.

The rollers 13 are each provided with a hollow hub 29 extending outwards through the flat sides 0f the container, and this hub is used to effect a driving connection with the roller when inserted in the maehine. The operating mechanisrn of the machine is provided with two upstanding pins upon which these hubs 29 are threaded to obtain the drivin'g engagernent. The pins may loe tapered and the hulos may be provided with an inwardly directed shoulder, or any other suitable construction may be used to effect the necessary frictional driving connection between the pins and the hulos.

In the construction of this spool-case, the two cylindrical Containers are first made up with one flat side in place, and the other flat side is constructed separately. After the spools have been inserted, the separate flat side is placed on each container and permanently secured thereto, as by soldering. or any otherconvenient 1nanner.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified construction in which the twd eylindrical boxes or Containers 30, 31 are not hinged together but are provided with male and female dove tail slides respectively, as indioated at 32, 33. VVhen the tvvo boxes 30, 31 are to be stored, the dovetail slides are engaged with one another as shown in Figure 3, and a cover-plate 34 is seeured on them to provide a fire-proof covering for the srnall length of film which remains exposed. When this oase is to loe inserted in the p-roj'ector, the two parts 30, 31 are separated from one another, and they may then be secured to an intermediate spacing pieee provided with e0rresponding male and rernale slides so as to ensure the correct relative positioning of the two boxes. This spacing-piece may be a separate loose mernber, or it may be incorporated in the kinematograph machine or camera.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated yet another embodiment of this invention. In this case the two eontainers 35, 36 are hinged -together by the extension plates 37 38 respectively secured 011 them, but the axis of hinging, 39, lies substantially in the plane of one of the fiat sides of the containers, so that one oontainer can be swung over to be superposed on the other, as indicated in ohain lines in Figure 6. The openings 40, 41 by Which the fil1n enters the containers arev so disposed that when the complete holder is thus folded, the openings lie sideby-side. This would result in imparting a twist to the film in closing the two parts 35, 36 together, and to obviate this one end or both ends of a film may be provided with a piece of fabric, such as tape, whereby it is secured 130 the roller or rollers within the containers, and this fabrio takes up any of such twist as may occur.

If it is desired, any convenient form of spring control may be provided on the hinged constructions 01 spool oase, in such a manner as to tend to n1ove the two parts relatively to one another towards their blosed position, or to retain thern when thus adjusted. A detent may also los provided to retain them in their opened-out positions,

or the resilient control may be soarranged that it is inoperative when the two containers are opened out; this could be effected by providing a spring which is extended when the container is opened out, but which is so disposed that When the container is fully opened out vits line of action erosses the pivotal axis of hinging.

It Will be appreciated that this invention provides a holder or eontainer for filrns and the like during use or storage which has the following advantages. When used for storage purposes, the two parts can be closed together so as to occupy the minimum space; when thus closed together, the film is adequately protected against any kind of da1nage or risk of fire; when the film is to be used the holder is ve1W simply adjusted by opening it out so that it can be placed in operated position, and it is ready for immediate use 0Wing to the engagement of the rollers in lt with the driving mechanism provided. Moreover, the whole construction is light and inexpensive, so that it is comrnercially practicable to use them for thestorage of filrns. It will be umlerstood that if so desired, the holder may be enclosed in a separate easing when the two parts have been closed together, if it is thought necessary to give additional protection against risk of'. fire, but this invention is independent of such additional containers, and has for its object to provide an improved construction of holder as herein-before descriloed.

What we clairn as our invention and.desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a film holder, the combination of two substantially closed containers, and interconnecting rneans permitting thern to be secured closely together for stora'ge purposes or to be spaced apart to expose a length of film between them.

2. In a filrn holder, the eombination of two substantially closed containers, means for spacing thern apart; to permit the passage of a beam of' light between them, means f )r cloSing them together, and means 170 pro- Vide 'complete enclosure of the film. to be contained in tl1em.

3. In a film holder, the cornbination of two substantially closed containers, a spool in each container, means accessible from outside the containers for efl'e'cting driving engagement with the respective spools, means for spacing said containers apart t0 expose a lengbh of film between-them saicl means permitting the passage 0f a beam of light between *said containers and through the film, means for moVing said containers into\ close proximity with one another to provide complete enclosure for a, film COD- tained within them.

4. In a, film holder, the combination of a flat cylindrical container formed with an opening on its periphery, anal a, seo0nd sin'1ilar container hinged to said first cont-ainer in such manner that the two oontainers oan be folded together to bring their respective peripheral openings close to one anot her.

5. In a film holder, the oombination of a .flat cylindrical container having an opening in i1:s periphery and having a, plate extending from eac-h of its flat sides substantially -in the plne of that side, a similar contairier ha.ving similar flat plafes extenoling from it, coa xial pivotal oonnections parallel With the axes of seid oontainers and conneoting eacliv flat plate of one container with the conesponding flat plate of the other oontainer, said openings in the peripheries of the Containers being so disposed relatively to the said pivotl conneotions that when the comtainers are swng towards one another on the pivotal conneotions the said openings are brought together to provide complete enclosute for a, film within seid containers.

6. In a film'holder, the cornbination of a fla-t oylindrical container having'an opening in its periphery, Walls eztending around said opening to shield it, a flat plate extending said Walls suriounding said openings' come mto oontact w1th one another to p-rov1de complete enclosure for a film within the said containers. 7. In a film holder, the combination of two substantially closed containers, interconneoting means permitting -them bo besecured closely together for storage purposes or to be spacedapamt t expose a length-of film between them, and resilient means tending eno rmally to close Said containers together. y

8. In a film holder, a plurality of film-receiving containers adapted to be maintained either in extended relationship to expose a length of film therebetween o1 in aoljacent posit-ion to proteot said film.

In testimor1y whereof we have signed ou1 nalnes to this specifioation.

HERBERT GEORGE PONTING. GEORGE WILLIAM FORD. 

